I have long heard jokes regarding Jimmy Carter and the Killer Rabbit. I was never quite sure if this was fact or something from a Python sketch. This morning I stumbled on not only the whole story but also pictures:

Did Carter get a fair shake regarding this momentary event in his life? Definitely not. The media and his political opponents made hay exploiting this minor boating incident. However, the story's legs were lengthened by the legacy of passivity left by the 39th President.

Imagine how the same story would have been told had the victim been someone a bit tougher...like a John Wayne.

Of course, the more serious critics of Carter have no place for a trifle like this story. There are numerous issues larger than a 'rodent of unusual temper' to address.

UPDATE: It also seems that a submarine is not the only thing to be named after Jimmy Carter.